US5703160A
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US
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Biodegradable moulding compositions comprising a starch, a biodegradable polyester, and a salt of a hydroxycarboxylic acid
Assignee: Solvay SA
•
Filing: 1993-07-15
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Granted: 1997-12-30
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Expires: 2013-07-15
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a thermoformable composition characterized in that it contains at least one starchy compound, at least one biodegradable polyester and at least one salt of hydroxycarboxylic acid.
Inventors
- 👤 Claude Dehennau
- 👤 Thierry Depireux
- 👤 Guy Fleche
- 👤 Serge Gosset
- 👤 Didier Videau
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 11:35
CPC Classifications
C; C08; C08L; C08L3/00; C08K; C08K5/00; C08K5/04; C08K5/09; C08K5/098; C08L3/02; C08L67/00; C08L67/04; C08L2201/00; C08L2201/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 48
Claim 1
Independent Claim
27 words
A biodegradable thermoformable composition comprising: a) at least one starchy compound; b) at least one biodegradable polyester; and c) at least one salt of an hydroxycarboxylic acid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
27 words
A biodegradable thermoformable composition comprising: a) at least one starchy compound; b) at least one biodegradable polyester; and c) at least one salt of an hydroxycarboxylic acid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein the at least one starchy compound is a natural starch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein the at least one starchy compound is a modified starch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein the at least one starchy compound is a modified starch selected from the group consisting of destructured starch, plasticized destructured starch, pregelled starch, and plasticized pregelled starch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein the at least one starchy compound is a modified starch selected from the group consisting of: etherified starch, esterified starch, cross-linked starch, oxidized starch, alkaline treated starch, acid hydrolyzed starch, enzyme hydrolyzed starch, and a combination thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein the at least one biodegradable polyester is polylactic acid, polyglycolic acid, polyhydroxybutyric acid, polyhydroxypropionic acid, polyhydroxyvaleric acid, a salt thereof, or a copolymer thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein the at least one biodegradable polyester is polylactic acid or a polylactate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein the at least one biodegradable polyester is sodium polylactate.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein the dry-weight ratio of the at least one starchy compound to the at least one biodegradable polyester is between approximately 99/1 and 1/99.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein the dry-weight ratio of the at least one starchy compound to the at least one biodegradable polyester is between 90/10 and 10/90.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein the dry-weight ratio of the at least one starchy compound to the at least one biodegradable polyester is between 80/20 and 50/50.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein the dry-weight ratio of the at least one starchy compound to the at least one biodegradable polyester is between 99/1 and 70/30.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein the dry-weight ratio between the at least one starchy compound and the at least one biodegradable polyester is between 98/2 and 80/20.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein the dry-weight ratio of the at least one starchy compound to the at least one biodegradable polyester is between 98/2 and 40/60.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
40 words
The composition of claim 1 comprising 5-60 weight percent of the at least one starchy compound, 30-94 weight percent of the at least one thermoplastic polyester, and 1-10 weight percent of the at least one salt of an hydroxycarboxylic acid.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein the at least one starchy compound has an amylopectin content of at least 70 weight percent.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
8 words
The composition of claim 1 further comprising water.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The composition of claim 1 wherein the at least one starchy compound is in a partially molten state.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The composition of claim 1, wherein said at least one salt of an hydroxycarboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of monohydroxy/monocarboxylic acid salts, polyhydroxy/monocarboxylic acid salts, and a combination thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The composition of claim 19, wherein said at least one salt of an hydroxycarboxylic acid is an alkali or alkaline-earth metal salt of lactic acid, gluconic acid, maltobionic acid, lactobionic acid, or glyceric acid.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The composition of claim 19, wherein said at least one salt is an alkali or alkaline-earth metal salt of lactic acid.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
14 words
The composition of claim 19, wherein said at least one salt is sodium lactate.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one adjuvant selected from the group consisting of urea and hydrogenated sugars.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The composition as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one adjuvant selected from the group consisting of sorbitol, mannitol, maltitol, and lactitol.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
The composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one biodegradable polyester is a thermoplastic aliphatic polyester or copolyester in which the ester functional groups are separated by linear or branched hydrocarbon groups containing more than three carbon atoms.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one biodegradable polyester is a lactone homopolymer or copolymer.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one biodegradable polyester is a poly-ε-caprolactone.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
20 words
The composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one biodegradable polyester is a polyester or copolyester obtained from hydroxyalkanoates.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The composition of claim 4 wherein the plasticized starch includes a maximum of 50% by weight of the plasticizer.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
44 words
The composition of claim 1, wherein the hydroxycarboxylic acid salt is an alkali or alkaline-earth metal salt obtained from lactic, glycolic, hydroxybutyric, citric, isocitric, malic, tartronic, gluconic, maltobionic, lactobionic, glucuronic, glyceric, ribonic, xylonic, galactonic, mesovalonic, tartaric, mesoxalic or glucaric acids or a combination thereof.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
42 words
A process for making a biodegradable thermoformed article comprising thermoforming a composition including a) at least one starchy compound in a destructured or partially molten state, b) at least one biodegradable polyester, and c) at least one salt of an hydroxycarboxylic acid.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
42 words
A process for making a biodegradable thermoformed article comprising thermoforming a composition including a) at least one starchy compound in a destructured or partially molten state, b) at least one biodegradable polyester, and c) at least one salt of an hydroxycarboxylic acid.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
42 words
The process of claim 31, wherein the composition is made by combining the at least one starchy compound in a destructured or partially molten state with the at least one biodegradable polyester and the at least one salt of an hydroxycarboxylic acid.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
54 words
The process as claimed in claim 31, wherein the composition is made by combining the at least one starchy compound, the at least one biodegradable composition, and the at least one salt of an hydroxycarboxylic acid followed by treatment to effect the at least one starchy compound in a destructured or partially molten state.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
11 words
A biodegradable thermoformed article produced from the composition of claim 1.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
11 words
A biodegradable thermoformed article produced from the composition of claim 4.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
11 words
A biodegradable thermoformed article produced from the composition of claim 5.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
11 words
A biodegradable thermoformed article produced from the composition of claim 15.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
21 words
The biodegradable thermoformed article of claim 34 having a maximum loss factor, tan delta, at a temperature not exceeding 150° C.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
29 words
The biodegradable composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one starchy compound is a modified starch selected from the group consisting of destructured starch or partially molten starch.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
11 words
A biodegradable thermoformed article produced from the composition of claim 39.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
43 words
A biodegradable thermoformable composition comprising: a) at least one starchy compound; b) at least one biodegradable polyester; and c) at least one salt of an hydroxycarboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of monohydroxy/monocarboxylic acid salts, polyhydroxy/monocarboxylic acid salts, and a combination thereof.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
43 words
A biodegradable thermoformable composition comprising: a) at least one starchy compound; b) at least one biodegradable polyester; and c) at least one salt of an hydroxycarboxylic acid selected from the group consisting of monohydroxy/monocarboxylic acid salts, polyhydroxy/monocarboxylic acid salts, and a combination thereof.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
34 words
The composition of claim 41, wherein the at least one salt of an hydroxycarboxylic acid is an alkali or alkaline-earth metal salt of lactic acid, gluconic acid, maltobionic acid, lactobionic acid, or glyceric acid.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
25 words
The composition of claim 41, wherein the at least one salt of an hydroxycarboxylic acid is an alkali or alkaline-earth metal salt of lactic acid.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
18 words
The composition of claim 41, wherein the at least one salt of an hydroxycarboxylic acid is sodium lactate.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
11 words
A biodegradable thermoformed article produced from the composition of claim 41.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-12-29 | 2001-06-30 | 2001-12-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-12-29 | 2005-06-30 | 2005-12-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-12-29 | 2009-06-30 | 2009-12-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |